Former Greensboro police officer, accused of stealing lawn mowers, now accused of stealing from police department

Former Greensboro police officer, accused of stealing lawn mowers, now accused of stealing from police department

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Updated: 6:39 PM EDT Apr 7, 2017

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WEBVTT ROUGH THECOURT DOCUMENTS AND JOINS USLIVE OUTSIDE POLICEHEADQUARTERS.REPORTER: ATTORNEYS REPRESENTINGWHITE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THISTODAY NOR WOULD THE GREENSBORO POLICEDEPARTMENT.THAT DIDN'T STOP US FROM LOOKINGTHROUGH THE COURT DOCUMENTSDETAILING MORE ABOUT WHAT, INVESTIGATORS FOUND WHEN THEYRAIDED HIS HOME.>> 8,400 ROUNDS OF AMMO, 43 HARDARMOR PLATES AND 12 BALLISTIC VESTS.THAT IS JUST SOME OF WHATSEVEN-YEAR VETERAN OFFICERWILLIAM WHITE, ALLEGEDLY STOLEFROM THE GREENSBORO POLICEDEPARTMENT.THE ITEMS CAME UP IN A SEARCH OFHIS PLEASANT GARDEN HOME AFTER HIS ARREST FOR THE THEFTOF $44,000 WORTH OF LAWNMOWERS.COURT DOCUMENTS ALSO STATEINVESTIGATORS FOUND A MODIFIEDAM-15 THAT WAS TURNED INTO A SHORTBARREL RIFLE.THEY ALSO FOUND THREE HOMEMADESILENCERS ALONGSIDE ANOTHERRIFLE WITH AMMO.TESTIMONY IN THE DOCUMENTS SAYNONE OF THE FIREARMS WEREREGISTERED TO HIM.WHITE WAS CHARGED WITH TWOCOUNTS OF POSSESSON OF A WEAPOOF MASS DESTRUCTION. HE BONDED OUT OF JAIL AFTERPOSTING A $500,000 BOND.REPORTS SAY WHILE LEAVING JAIL,WHITE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THEINCIDENT "NOT BEING OVER," WHICHPOLICE TOOK AS A THREAT.WE DID REACH OUT TO ANITAHOLDER, WHO IS WHITE'S MOTHER.SHE WAS THE INTERIM DEPUTY CHIEFOF THE GREENSBORO POLICEDEPARTMENT WHEN HE WAS HIRED INSHE SAYS IN PART QUOTE 2010.WE URGE EVERYONE TO RESERVEJUDGEMENT UNTIL THE ALLEGEDCRIMINAL VIOLATIONS ARE HEARD INWE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS CASELATER TONIGHT.INCLUDING MORE DETAILS FROM

Former Greensboro police officer, accused of stealing lawn mowers, now accused of stealing from police department

It could be a case of sticky fingers for a former Greensboro police officer.

William White, 32, was one of four people blamed for stealing $44,000 in lawn mowers in March. Now, an investigation by WXII 12 News shows White is also accused of stealing from the police department.

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An affidavit filed in support of an application for an arrest warrant explains what was reportedly found in White's home in March. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Task Force Officer Eric Watkins says on Monday, March 6, special agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and investigators from the Burlington Police Department executed a search warrant at White's home in Pleasant Garden.

"This investigation was the culmination of an extensive investigation regarding the breaking and entering of John Deere dealers in the Middle and Eastern District of North Carolina," said Watkins in the court affidavit.

White was a sworn-in Greensboro police officer at the time of the alleged theft of the lawn mowers, but was on paid administrative leave for an incident unrelated to the breaking and entering investigation.

During the search of the home on Destiny Jo Road, reports say investigators located an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, .223/5.56 caliber firearm in a locked gun safe.

"This firearm was equipped with a barrel measuring approximately 9 inches with the flash suppressor attached and 7 .75 inches without the flash suppressor attached. The Anderson Manufacturing model AM-15 firearm has clearly been modified with the addition of the aftermarket, expandable stock," the affidavit reads. The court document claims the modification effectively reconfigured the Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, firearm into a short-barrel rifle "intended to be fired from the shoulder."

Court documents also say investigators located three Maglite-style flashlight tubes that appeared to have been manufactured into firearm sound suppressors.

"It should be noted that one of these homemade sound suppressors was located in a gun case with a Roger model 10/22, .22 caliber rifle, and subsonic ammunition," the affidavit reads.

According to court reports, investigators also located items believed to be stolen from the Greensboro Police Department in White's home. The items were identified as 8,400 rounds of .223, .45, .308 and 12-gauge ammunition, 43 hard armor plates, 12 soft ballistic vests, three ProTec ballistic panels, two soft ballistic plates, and two hard trauma ballistic plates.

Investigators contacted the ATF National Firearms Act Branch and say they confirmed that White does not have any firearms registered in his name.

Investigators held an interview, a day after raiding White's home, with a former co-worker of White. The former officer said he believed this investigation would push White to become homicidal.

White was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon of mass destruction while he was in custody at the Alamance County Detention Center. Court documents say White posted a $500,000 bond.

"White made comments regarding this incident 'not being over' while being released from the Alamance County Detention Center. These comments were evaluated, and perceived, by the High Point Police Department as a threat towards law enforcement and the general public," the affidavit reads.

White is due to make an appearance in court next week on the charges of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

Attorneys for White were not available for comment Friday. Anita Holder, White's mother, who was also the interim deputy chief of the Greensboro Police Department when White was hired, released the following comment:

"I am extremely proud to acknowledge William Zachary White as my son and will stand alongside him as all of these matters are heard in courts of law. He has a tremendous amount of support from family, friends and his church. We urge everyone to reserve judgement until the alleged criminal violations are heard in court."

A spokesperson for the Greensboro Police Department says "At the time of Mr. White’s hiring, Deputy Chief Anita Holder was the Commander of the Management Bureau. However, she recused herself from the committee while it was considering Mr. White’s application."

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